THERESA May will potentially exploit a defeat of her proposed Brexit deal to court the support of Brexiteer MPs in a "for Brexit, against Brexit" showdown in Parliament, BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg suggested.

Theresa May is expected to suffer a humiliating loss in the Commons after attempts to defend the Brexit withdrawal agreement she unveiled in November. With only 206 MPs reported to be ready to back Mrs May, BBC's Laura Kuenssberg claimed the Prime Minister could transform her defeat into a weapon to lure Brexiteer MPs to her side. Ms Kuenssberg suggested Remainer MPs could turn out to be vital for the Prime Minister's potential return from the ashes.

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Sharing her predictions for the consequences of a Government defeat on January 15 on Brexitcast, the BBC political editor said: "Someone in Government was explaining to me yesterday they feel rather hopeful of having a much smaller defeat because they think the most likely amendment to get enough backing is the Hilary Benn amendment.

"The Hilary Benn amendment says, ‘no to this deal and no to no deal.’ If that wins, that will win because of a relatively small group of Remainers.

"If Number 10 were feeling crunchy and excitable and smart about how they might be able to spin that, they could say on Wednesday morning, ‘look, Brexit was defeated by a small group of Remainers who are trying to thwart Brexit. come with me, back my deal.’

"'Oh, look, here’s a ladder for some Brexiteers to climb down. Oh, look, here’s a way to actually make this seems like it is a for Brexit or against Brexit vote rather than for Theresa May’s deal or against Theresa May’s deal'."

Brexit news: Mrs May could be planning to use a defeat to get support for her deal (Image: BBC)

Theresa May has been battling with stiff opposition to her deal from her parliamentary allies in the DUP as well as backbench Tory MPs, who are expected to hand the 585-page withdrawal deal a significant defeat when the House of Commons votes on it next week.

The Prime Minister has held a number of discussions with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in order to deliver assurances to MPs that the controversial Irish backstop will not be used by the European Union to hold Britain hostage in a customs union.

Mr Juncker urged MPs to back the withdrawal deal because a no-deal Brexit would be a “disaster” for the United Kingdom.

EU and British officials are working on potential clarifications, which set out the backstop is only a “temporary measure” but it is unclear whether they will materialise ahead of the vote.

The EU Commissioner has warned Britain that any contacts in the days before the vote should not be considered as renegotiations, with the EU maintaining the withdrawal agreement is the “best and only deal possible”.

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According to BBC research, Mrs May could suffer the biggest Commons defeat on record when MPs vote on her Brexit deal.

The broadcaster expects as many as 433 MPs to oppose the deal while only 206 to side with Mrs May to guarantee the UK leaves on her agreed terms on March 29.

British voters have also expressed their discontent with the draft divorce deal and have hijacked the crunch Commons vote by securing a parliamentary debate over whether the UK should quit the EU on no-deal terms.

Die-hard Brexiteers flocked online to sign a petition demanding a debate on the matter. The 321,000 signatures dwarf the 100,000 needed to secure a discussion in the House of Commons.

The document, titled ‘Leave the EU without a deal in March 2019’, reads: “We will save billions of pounds from our EU divorce payment as well as a similar amount from Civil Service and Government costs.

“This money will be used to support our own country whilst we await the EU to talk to us to make deals more in our favour.”

Hotspots known for their ports such as Hampshire and Dover have gathered more than 841 signatures - the maximum amount per region.

Brexit news: May has been trying to rally MPs to support her deal since November (Image: GETTY)

Brexit news: Commissioner Juncker told May the EU will not renegotiate the terms of the deal (Image: GETTY)

Pro-Brexit campaign donors Peter Hargreaves and Crispin Odey said they think Theresa May will eventually abandon Brexit altogether after concluding it would be impossible to get a deal through Parliament.

Mr Hargreaves said he had “totally given up” on Brexit while Mr Odey said “it ain’t gonna happen.” Together the pair donated more than £4million to various Leave campaign groups but criticised Brexiteers for lacking consolidated leadership and direction in the wake of the 2016 vote.

Mr Hargreaves told Reuters: “I have totally given up. I am totally in despair, I don't think Brexit will happen at all.

"They (pro-Europeans) are banking on the fact that people are so fed up with it that they will just say 'sod it we will stay'. I do see that attitude.

“The problem is when something doesn't happen for so long you feel less angry about it."